Grain cleaner and separator.



annum,

PATENTBD 00T. 8, 1907.

I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` W. c. HARMON. GRAIN GLBANBR AND SEPARATOR.

l APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1906.

ful Noam: PETERS c il un" 26| |4| @/ex 4x' '9988188888 www@ 380.

a 1` PATBNTED 001:8, 19o?.

W. C. HARMON.

GRAIN CLEAN-ER SBPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28. 1900.

. Z-SHBBTS-BHEBT 2.

SHHIIIIIIIIIIIHHL EHIIIIIHHE vill/IIA "lll/1111.

` akamai nfs Nanni: PETERS ca. wAsnlNarnN, D. e.

PATENT oEEIoE.

WILLIAM o. IIA'RMON, or SENECA, MISSOURI.

GRAIN CLEANER AND `SEPAIRATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. y8, 1907.

Application led June 28,1906. Serial llo.` 323,761.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HARMON, a citizen oi the United States,residing at Seneca, in the county oi Newton and State of Missouri, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Grain Cleaners and Separators,of which the ollowing is a specification.

The invention relates to an improvement in grain cleaners andseparators, comprehending speciically a machine wherein is combined thecleaning and separating operation whereby the grain is separated fromall refuse matter and thoroughly screened.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a machineoi this type in which the grain is continually subjected, during itspassage through the machine, to a separating operation and to a currentof air designed to draw from the material the refuse and light matter,the separating operation rendering the mass more readily influencedl bythe air currents while at the same time tending to clean or scour thegrain.

The invention will be described in the iollowing specication, referencebeing had particularly to the accompanying drawings, in whiche- Figure 1is a view in elevation of a separator constructed in accordance with myinvention, Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, Fig. 3 is a similarview taken' at right angles to the section of Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is atransverse section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like parts are indicated by similarreierence numerals throughout the several views my improved cleaner andseparator comprises a box-like casing l oi the desired length, supportedat the lower end in a base plate 2 and closed at the upper end.

. The casing is preferably square in cross section including side walls2 and end walls 3, which are secured together in any substantial manner.The casing is interiorly divided by vertically disposed spacedpartitions 4, extending in parallel relation to the end walls 3 thereof.The partitions 4 are so arranged relative to the end walls oi the casingas to provide refuse receiving spaces or chambers 5 between saidpartitions and the end walls. The partitions 4 are connected bytransversely disposed partitions 6, extending throughout the length ofthe casing and arranged in parallel relation to the respective sidewalls oi the casing. The partitions 6 are spaced from the side walls oithe casing to provide intermediate air spaces 7 and 8, and are sodisposed relative to each other as to include aseparating chamber 9bounded by the partitions 6 and the included sections oi the partitions4, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The separating chamber 9 is in opencommunication at the upper end with a grain spout 10, designed todeliver the material to said chamber, and within the chamber immediatelybelow the mouth oi the spout is arranged a screen or riddle 11,`preferably composed oi parallel bars spaced apart to permit the .passageof the grain between them but to receive and support the larger refuse.The riddle 11 is inclined transverse the width oi the separating chamberand at the lower end projects through an opening 12 formed in one of thepartitions 4, the lower or discharge end of the riddle extending withinthe refuse chamber 5, so as to direct the refuse supported by the riddleinto said chamber. The lower portion of the chamber is provided with anloutlet 13 by forming an opening in the approximate wall o the casing,the refuse chamber adjacent the outlet having an inclined bottom 14 todirect the refuse through the opening. A closure 15 is provided wherebythe escape oi the refuse may be controlled as desired. l

Below the riddle the partitions 4 are provided with oppositely arrangeddownwardly and inclining delector plates 16, spaced apart at their inneror iree ends to direct the grain passing through the riddle toward thecenter oi the separating chamber.

A shaft 17 projects through the casing, being supported in a suitableirameworkprojecting iron; the base plate 2, and constituting theoperating shaft oi the separator. The shaft extends through-thepartitions 6 and centrally through the separating chamber,

being within the plane oi said chamber provided with blades 18 supportedat the ends of spider arms fixed to the shaft, the blades beingapproximately oi the full width of the chamber. The shaft is disposedimmediately below the deflector plates 16, so that the grain passing.over said plates will be engaged and spread by the revolving blades 18.Below the separating blades the partitions 6 of the separating chamberare provided with guide plates 19 alternately connected to the opposingpartitions and extending in reversely inclined directions therefrom, thefree edge oi one plate being lspaced from the proximate partition anddisposed above the upper or supported end of the next succeeding plate.As the plates 19 are of the full width of the separating chamber, theconstruction described provides a tortuous passage for the grain belowthe separating blades, as will be evident. Each partition 6 immediatelybelow the connection thereto o each plate 19 is formed with atransversely arranged opening 20, providing for communication betweenthe separating chamber and the air chambers 7 and 8, as will be apparentfrom Fig. 3 of the drawings. The separating chamber is preferably ope'nat bottom to provide for the escape of the grain, and is designed to bearranged for cooperation with any suitable` form of conveyer, wherebythe grain after treatment may be conveyed to a place oi deposit.

Fixed to the side wall 2 of the casing forming a wall of the air chamber7 is a fan case 21, so arranged as to be in open communication with theair chamber 7 through the medium of openings 22 formed in the proximatesidewall of the casing and in the contacting wall of the fan casing. Theshaft 17 is of a length to extendthrough the fan case, being revolublysupported therebeyond in a standard 23 projecting from the base plate.Within the ian case the shaft 17 is provided with a series of vanes 24forming a suction ian, and the end of the shaft 17 beyond the tan caseis provided with a suitable belt Wheel, as 25, ior connection with asource oi power. The ian case 2l is provided with a walled outlet orchute 26 preferably extending from the upper edge of the case and inalinement with the plane oi operation oi the ian. The wall 2 of thecasing forming the outer Wall oi the air chamber 7 is formed'n with aseries of openings 27, to provide for thc admission of air to thechamber, said openings being normally closed by any desired iorm ofvalve 28, whereby to regulate the quantity of air admitted through theopenings 27. A, cutoff Valve 29 is pivotally supported in the airchamber 7 being of'a size to completely lill the chamber when arrangedin cutoff position, the valve is preferably in the form of a rectangularplate centrally supported upon a rod 30 extending through the end Walls3 of the'partition and provided beyond one of said end Walls with ahandle 31 whereby to operate the cutoff as desired.

In operation the grain admitted through the chute 10 is directed ontothe riddle 11, passing therethrough together with the smaller particlesoi refuse. The main portion of the refuse, however, is separated fromthe grain and directed into the refuse chamber 5. The grain with thesmaller particles of refuse is directed by the delector 16 onto therevolving separator blades 1S, and effectively spread by the action oisaid blades.

The material passes irom the separator blades onto the' guide plates 19,and travels down said blades in suc-- cession throughout the length ofthe separating chamber. The fan 24 creating a suction in the air chamber7, will, through the openings 20 draw the lighter portions ofthe refusethrough said openings, into the chamber 7, into the fan case and outthrough the conductor or chute 26. As the descending mass of grain isthus subjected to the action oi the air current many times during itsprogress through the separating chamber it is obvious that the grainwill be thoroughly cleansed of all refuse and will be delivered to theconveyor in a clean condition.

The action of the separator blades 18 as well as trictional Contact ofthe grain with the guiding plates will tend to thoroughly clean or scourthe kernels of grain,

i the material thus removed being withdrawn by the air current as is theother refuse.

The machine as a whole is readily adapted for handling various classesoi grain, as the air inlets 27 and the cut-off 29 may be manipulated tocontrol the force ol the air current to the desired extent.

It is to be particularly noted in connection with the constructiondescribed that the cleaning and separating operation is entirelyautomatic and that the machine once in operation requires no iurthcrattention, as all material once introduced is compelled to follow thesame course and is continuously and successively subjected to a cleaningand separating operation in its passage through the machine.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is:-

A grain separator comprising' an. inel'osed separating chamber, refusechambers extending throughout the length et the sides of the separatim;-chambers and be vond the end walls thereof, a screen supported in theupper end of the separating chamber and inciining toward :1ndtermina-tintr within one o1.' the refuse chambers, a revoivinfelspreader' mounted in the separating;- chamber helow the screen, a seriesof alternately and reversely in clined guide plates arranged within theseparating cham ber, air chambers arranged at the ends of theseparating.: chamber and between the projecting ends ot' the ret'n.chambers tid. air chambers bein;v inl communication with the separatingchamber through openings formed in thel walls of the latter adjacent:the connected ends ot the guide plates, and means for creating a suctionin the air chambers.

In testimony whereof, I atx my signature in presence ot' two witnesses.

\VII.LIAM C. llAIiMON. Witnesses L. B. Brunson,

W. E. Romans.

